HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-15® Dryden Youth Commission
July 15, 2003
Minutes
Present: Jean Simmons, Kristen Blackman, Walt Matyjas, Alan Macomber, Tracy
Kurtz, Nita Baldwin, Kris Bennett
Absent: Penny Green - Brown, Eric McConnell
Jean opened the meeting at 7:10 pm by welcoming Alan as a new member,
representing the Village of Dryden. Alan and Tracy both met with Kris for an orientation.
Minutes - Minutes from April, May and June were approved.
Town Board Presentation - Walt and Kris spoke before the T. Dryden Board on July 9.
Walt distributed copies of the 2002 DYC annual report and gave some highlights. He
also shared photos of youth participants in the 2002 Youth Conservation Corps and
Cooperative Extension programs. He told the Board of expected cuts in state aid of
$592 for 2004 and reminded the Board that $2732 had been cut for 2003. He spoke of
cost saving approaches that were taken, such as using the school district bulletin and a
Shopper ad to advertise programs and asked the Board to consider not reducing its
contribution in 2004 (matching the NYS cut). Kris shared a summary of the community
forum done in Nov. in Dryden and also the local youth demographic profile. She also
® reminded the Town that their seat on the County Youth Services Board is open.
Updates - 1) Kris reported that YCC had hoped to do significant work on the ball fields
but that funding did not come through. They are working on a variety of shorter
projects. 2) Kris monitored the Jr. Police Academy and Freeville Rec. Program; Walt
monitored YCC. Report forms were shared with DYC members. Others were reminded
of what program they had volunteered to monitor. 3) Kris, Jean and Kristen will be
speaking to the Village of Freeville Trustees meeting on Aug. 5. 4) Carissa has applied
for a position with the Trumansburg- Ulysses program and if hired would leave her
Dryden position. (Since the meeting, Carissa informed us that she is leaving Dryden at
the end of the summer.) This is an opportunity for the DYC to think about possibly
restructuring that position or Dave's, if they want CCE to take on a YCC -type summer
project. Members felt we should wait to see both what Carissa decides and what other
YCC bids are submitted. 5) According to DYC bylaws, members should be appointed to
terms of up to 2 (Village appointees) or 3 (Town appointees) years. No recent
appointments have listed the term expiration. Kris shared appointment dates of current
members; most on the commission were never re- appointed. The DYC feels that
clarifying term dates will help prevent confusion in the future about whether a member's
term is still in effect or not; Kris will work with Town and Village boards to clarify this. 6)
Kris had the chance to speak with Mayors Lyson and Taylor and Spvr. Varvayanis at
the Jr. Police Academy graduation on Friday. When Kris and Mark were discussing
anticipated funding cuts for 2004, he said he would be interested to learn more about
other communities that provide more than an equal match to County and State funds.
Kris will put something together to send to him.
Assessing our work and focus; planning for the future - The group first went through the
County's Municipal Planning Group Vitality and Accountability Assessment which had
been mailed to all in advance. Members were pleased to see that the group meets
most criteria. In the near future, these things need work or attention:
1) look at by -laws for potential revisions /updates (clarify terms, appointments, focus)
2) have a quorum at meetings (Jean will call all members before the Sept. meeting)
3) make arrangements to appear before the V. Dryden trustees
4) getting information about programs out to youth, improving program visibility
5) explore creating links to local businesses (could create ways to get the word out
about programs, potential youth jobs, volunteers, commission members)
6) find out more about Serateen (Walt said they just received a national award)
7) logo
8) pursue funding for DYC from United Way next year
Kris then shared several charts and tables, showing '
1) youth served by DYC programs in 2002 by age, type of program and when offered
2) funding allocations for 2002: by program, by type of program
We then discussed current programs, youth served and services and began
considering what we already know and what should happen next year. Are all satisfied
with the mix of programs? Should new areas, such as mentoring or tutoring, be added?
All agreed that the main focus should continue to be middle schoolers. Tracy told the
® group that the 4:00 bus is being discontinued next year. We checked CCE's program
times; most ran until 5:00 so this should not affect youth participating in our programs.
Tracy said the Honor Society and Serateen provide academic support so she doesn't
think tutoring is needed. Also, many teachers are willing to stay late to help students but
suggested that the early (2:30) start of CCE programs conflicts with this and suggested
that programs start later. All agreed we should find out more about what Jennifer Glaab
and the Rec. Dept. will be offering and also find out if there are any opportunities for
collaborating (for example with after school skating program).
Plans for inviting RFP's for 2004 - Walt made a motion to solicit proposals from other
providers for a YCC -type program next year to see if this could be offered for less cost
next year. Motion passed. Group looked at the request for proposal cover letter and
forms used by the Joint Youth Commission; all decided to use some phrasing from their
materials on DYC's. Kris will draft and send out for review before sending to programs.
Who typically receives the RFP? Currently funded programs, Town and Village offices,
notice to Ithaca Journal and free Dryden papers.
Sept. meeting - Meeting will occur at 7 pm on Sept. 16 at the Town of Dryden office.
Kris will send in advance to all DYC members copies of the RFP's received so all can
review them before the meeting. No meeting scheduled for August.
DYC Minutes Page Two July 15, 2003